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Creating a Form

xAssets Configuration Guide
Forms

Creating a Form

This page explains how to create a new form, either from scratch or by cloning an existing one. Cloning is almost always the faster approach.

Prerequisites

You must be a Configuration User to create forms. Navigate to Admin > Forms to access the Forms List.

Methods for Creating a Form

There are three ways to create a new form:

  1. New blank form -- Click the New button
button in the form list toolbar, or choose **New Form** from the Forms menu above the list. This creates an empty form with no fields.
  1. Clone an existing form -- Select a form in the list and click the Clone button
button, or select **Clone Form** from the Forms menu. This creates an exact copy of the selected form, including all its fields, layout HTML, and stylesheets.
  1. Copy from the Find dialog -- Click Edit button
without a selected form to open the Find dialog. Search for a form, then click the ![New Query button](../../images/button-new-query.png) button to create a copy of the found form.

Methods 2 and 3 both produce a copy that includes all fields and layout settings from the source form.

The recommended approach for creating a new form is:

  1. Find a similar form -- Browse the Forms List or use the search box to find a form that is close to what you need.
  2. Clone it -- Use the Clone button to create a copy.
  3. Rename the copy -- Open the cloned form in the Form Editor and give it a meaningful name.
  4. Set the Subject and Form Type -- Ensure these are correct for the purpose of your new form.
  5. Set Category/Category Group -- If this is a category-specific asset editor form, assign the appropriate category.
  6. Modify the fields -- Add, remove, or reorder fields as needed (see Managing Form Fields).
  7. Save -- Click Save. The form is immediately available for use.

Tip: Cloning preserves the field layout, widths, and formatting of the source form, saving significant time compared to building from scratch.

Warning: After cloning, always rename the new form immediately. If two forms have very similar names, it can be difficult to tell them apart later, especially when selecting forms in dropdowns or subform references.

What to Set on a New Form

When creating a form, the most important fields to set in the Form Editor are:

  • Form Name -- a descriptive name that makes the form easy to find
  • Subject -- determines which database fields are available for insertion (e.g., Asset, Task, Custodian)
  • Form Type -- determines where the system will use the form (e.g., Editor, Dialog, Subform)
  • Profile -- optionally links the form to a functional area

For a full description of all Form Editor fields, see Editing a Form.